Venugopalan Nair, the man who lit himself up and ran into the makeshift protest venue in front of the Secretariat where BJP leader C.K. Padmanabhan has been on an indefinite strike, has succumbed to injuries.
He was earlier admitted to the Medical College hospital in Thiruvanathapuram with 90 per cent burns. Nair, who hails from Muttada near Thiruvanathapuram, was 49.
The incident took place around 2am when Venugopalan set himself on fire and ran into the tent chanting prayers. Police personnel and BJP workers took him to the hospital.
BJP leaders had been protesting in front of the Secretariat demanding the withdrawal of the state government's alleged 'anti-devotee' approach in Sabarimala. Various restrictions imposed by the police are in place in Sabarimala following protests from Hindu outfits against the state government's move to implement the September 28 Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple.
